‘It was crazy’: Australian barber hailed as hero after rushing to lawmaker’s rescue

Barber Ricky Jefferies hailed as hero after rushing to help lawmaker Helen Haines in Wangaratta

Australian barber Ricky Jefferies has been hailed as a hero for rushing to the aid of lawmaker Helen Haines in a shocking incident that has shaken the nation. On Monday, Oct 19, Jefferies was finishing haircuts at his shop when he heard a loud bang outside and realized a driver had struck Haines, leaving her critically injured. Without hesitation, he sprinted out of his store to confront the alleged attacker, grabbing a knife from his pocket and pulling him out of the car.

"I just ran out the front to see what was happening," Jefferies told reporters on Tuesday. "It was crazy, I just did what I could to help." He held the man down until police arrived, ensuring he was no longer a threat. Haines, a 65-year-old local MP, was airlifted to the hospital for surgery and remains in critical condition.

Early investigations suggest the driver deliberately performed a U-turn before hitting Haines as she was loading or unloading items from her car. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as a rare act of political violence, involving counterterrorism authorities in the ongoing investigation. While police have not yet determined a motive, Albanese praised Jefferies' intervention, calling him a hero for putting himself in danger to defend Haines.